The Chicago Sun-Times uses graphics to fight gun violence

31 posters from Ogilvy Chicago highlight the issues with firearms in America

By I-Hsien Sherwood.Published on Jun 11, 2018

Editor's Pick

Much to the chagrin of the city's residents, Chicago is the go-to example for gun violence in the country, a political football for pundits on both sides of the gun control debate. The Chicago Sun-Times is leaving no room for doubt about where its sentiments lie--a new poster series commissioned by the newspaper features 31 images, each representing a different problem or issue integral to the gun debate.

An eagle atop a pile of rounds illustrates the power of the National Rifle Association. A rotating pinwheel of handguns symbolizes bulk gun purchases. A stopwatch stands in for mandatory waiting periods. Each poster, collected at 31bullets.suntimes.com, is available for download and includes links to partner organizations looking to improve gun control laws.

According to the Sun-Times, 10 billion bullets are sold each year in the United States, enough for every American to have 31 rounds--hence the 31 posters. A short film featuring teachers at a gun range, many of them using a firearm for the first time, accompanies the new site.

The work comes out of Ogilvy Chicago, which has worked with the Sun-Times on memorable campaigns before. Earlier this year, the paper printed a blank front page to draw attention to what public discourse would lose if the paper were to shut down.